Legendary star of the screen Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa both died of natural causes, per the New Mexico chief medical examiner, Dr. Heather Jarrell, on Friday.
During a press briefing, New Mexico officials said that the 95-year-old actor’s death is listed as “Hypertensive and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor.” Hackman’s likely last day of life was on February 18, the last day his pacemaker recorded an event, Jarrell told the press.
Hackman’s wife Betsy’s death is listed as “Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, the manner of death is natural,” the official added. Arawaka’s death is believed to have occurred on February 11. She was 65, the chief medical examiner explained.
Officials also revealed there were no signs of trauma internally or externally for either Hackman or his wife. Testing for carbon monoxide poisoning was negative as well.
BREAKING: Gene Hackman’s cause of death is “Hypertensive and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor.” Betsy Hackman died of “Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, the manner of death is natural,” chief medical examiner says pic.twitter.com/nhzCEOnlm0
— ABC News Live (@ABCNewsLive) March 7, 2025
The news follows an earlier report that the deaths of the Hollywood star and his wife were “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation” due to all of the “circumstances surrounding” the scene, according to the search warrant affidavit.
The 95-year-old actor was discovered at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, along with his wife, Arakawa, on February 26.
The couple’s dog was also found dead. After responding to a welfare check request, law enforcement entered the home around 1:45 p.m. Local officials initially said there were no signs of foul play, per Associated Press, but the cause of death was not immediately revealed, and authorities said the investigation was ongoing.
According to a report by Variety, Arakawa was lying on the bathroom floor. An opened prescription pill bottle was found on the countertop, with pills scattered nearby. A space heater was found near the woman’s head, and the report noted that “the heater could have fallen in the event the female abruptly fell to the ground.”
Hackman was discovered in a mudroom with sunglasses nearby.
Arakawa’s body was discovered in the house with the door open, showing no signs of forced entry. A deceased dog was found in the bathroom closet, and two other dogs were found alive on the property – one near Arakawa’s body and the other roaming freely outside.
Related: Hackman’s Death Needs ‘More Thorough Investigation’; His Pacemaker’s Last ‘Event’ Revealed
